If you are at all interested in a wellness lifestyle, you’ve probably heard about chronic inflammation and the effects it can have on your body. However, it may be difficult to understand exactly what causes inflammation, how it can affect you, and perhaps most importantly, how you can overcome it.

Fortunately, Dr. Nathen Horst has the expertise to educate you on what you need to know about chronic inflammation and how to minimize its effects on your body. Read further to find out what you can do to beat this condition.

What Is Inflammation?

There are two types of inflammation in the body: acute and chronic. The former is actually part of the body’s natural immune system response to injury or illness by sending out white blood cells to fight off any pathogens.

A good example is the swelling and bruising that happens if you accidentally hit your shin on a coffee table. This is the body’s attempt to isolate the area of injury from the rest of the body so as not to spread the trauma. This process also takes place if you accidentally slice into your finger with a kitchen knife or have an infectious illness, such as the flu or pneumonia.

Chronic inflammation, on the other hand, happens when your body’s immune system is unable to completely eliminate the cause of the acute inflammation. In some cases, this can happen because you are exposed to an irritant, such as air pollution or industrial chemicals in your workplace, at low levels over a long period of time.

Chronic inflammation can also happen from an autoimmune disorder, such as lupus or rheumatoid arthritis, in which your body’s immune system mistakes healthy tissue for a pathogen and attacks it.

What Are the Symptoms of Chronic Inflammation?

You may not realize that you are suffering from chronic inflammation unless you are specifically diagnosed with an autoimmune condition, such as multiple sclerosis or lupus. Part of the reason for this is that the symptoms for chronic inflammation are vague and difficult to pinpoint.

A partial list of common symptoms for chronic inflammation includes:

• Allergies and asthma
• High blood pressure
• Fatigue and lethargy
• Skin problems
• Gastro-intestinal issues
• Joint pain and stiffness
• Congestion
• Frequent infections
• Shortness of breath
• Weight gain

Women of childbearing age are anywhere from 85 to 90 percent more likely than men to have some type of chronic inflammation, most likely in the form of an autoimmune condition.

How Can Chiropractic Care Help?

Chiropractic care is build upon the foundational belief that any illness in the body can be traced back to the spine, or, more specifically, misalignment of the vertebrae that make up the spine. If the individual vertebrae are not properly aligned, they can place pressure on the nerves leading in and out of the spinal cord, which can lead to improper signaling between the brain and the various organs and systems of the body. If this signaling is impeded, it can lead to chronic inflammation.

This misalignment can happen as a result of stress, injury, or illness. To realign these misaligned vertebrae, Dr. Horst will perform what is known as a spinal adjustment, which will open up space between the vertebrae, allowing them to slide back into their normal position. Once this is done, the pressure on your nerves will be released, which will allow proper signaling to and from the brain to be restored.

Reducing chronic inflammation, however, is more than just spinal adjustments. Dr. Horst will recommend an anti-inflammation diet that is low in fat and high in fresh fruits, dark-green leafy vegetables, fatty fish, and nuts. This should also include supplements such as vitamin D, magnesium, and flax. At the same time, you should work to reduce or eliminate the amount of salt, sugar, and unhealthy fats in your diet.

Exercise will also help fight chronic inflammation by keeping your joints moving, helping you lose weight and shed excess fat. If you have joint issues, such as rheumatoid arthritis, you should start with slow and gentle stretches and work your way up, in order to avoid damaging your joints. Dr. Horst can help you devise an exercise plans specific to your needs.

Acute inflammation is a necessary function in order for the body to heal from injuries or illness. Without this process, we would never recover from even the smallest paper cut or the mildest cold. On the other hand, chronic inflammation can last for years. Fortunately, there is a number of chiropractic therapies that can help reduce this type of inflammation and help get you back on the road to wellness.